Can Drones Help Your Business Take Off?

Drones are increasingly taking flight worldwide. And not just as tools for reconnaissance or toys for the tech-savvy. These days, drones offer significant, potential benefits for businesses of all sizes.

But first, a very brief history lesson. The U.S. military has long used drones for surveillance, while hobbyists, for their part, have flown small model planes since the early 1900s. What’s groundbreaking about today’s commercial drones, however, is the coupling of the technologies. Commercial drones pair the aerial data collection capabilities of military drones with the compactness and agility of model aircraft. And businesses are taking notice.

For instance, drones have recently proven popular for aerial photography and filming. Rather than using helicopters to take bird’s eye photographs or shoot aerial view videos, many—including real estate brokers, construction contractors, and filmmakers, just to name a few—are now flying drones equipped with cameras. Why? Because they save money by not having to pay to use helicopters manned by a photographer or videographer. Using drones, they can capture the same aerial photos or videos for less money.

And given their cost-saving potential, drones are even finding a home in more change-resistant industries. Insurers, for example, are considering using drones for roof inspections. Instead of having someone climb up to inspect a policyholder’s roof, they imagine flying drones above homes to photograph the roofs. This would benefit insurers by improving worker safety (i.e., no risk of injury from climbing on a roof), reducing expense (injuries cost money), and increasing efficiency (drones can quickly cover multiple roofs).

But there’s more. Farmers are using drones to survey crops. Utility companies are using drones to inspect high-reaching infrastructure, such as telephone poles. Other companies are using drones equipped with sensors that can detect how much heat a surface emits, and what lies behind it. Think X-ray glasses from above. As the technology improves, potential drone uses will only multiply. Drones, coming soon to a sky near you.

So, what does this mean for businesses?

Think about your company’s common practices. Do you often take aerial photographs or videos? Do you typically require employees to climb tall surfaces? Do you frequently have to collect information about a wide land area? Consider whether a drone could help you accomplish these tasks more safely and efficiently.

OK, but my company doesn’t employ any pilots. How will I be able to fly a drone?

First, you likely don’t need a licensed airplane pilot. Second, drone manufacturers are making drones easier to fly so that the technology can be more widely adopted. Some drones even have an autopilot feature. Now, that said, there is still a learning curve, but many drone manufacturers offer tutorials. So don’t be deterred by the flying aspect.

All right, but what about the cost of drones?

The cost varies, depending on the drone’s features, such as the camera quality, durability, and battery life. The cheapest drones are priced around $100, but prices can reach $10,000+. As with any investment in technology, it is important to consult with knowledgeable, reputable vendors to determine the best drone(s) for your business’s needs and budget.

One last question, does my business need any kind of license to fly drones?

The short answer is likely yes, but obtaining the “license” is mostly hassle-free these days, depending on your company’s needs. The FAA has established rules and procedures for the commercial operation of drones. It also requires a company to have the drone’s operator(s) pass a basic test that is given nationwide. The test is meant for those without flying experience and designed to require only a few hours of study time.

“Stephen L. Ball is Government Affairs Counsel for CSAA Insurance Group. A proud Wolverine, Stephen has a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Michigan. He also has a J.D. from Harvard Law School. For more information about the Federal Aviation Administration’s rules and procedures for commercial drone use, see https://www.faa.gov/uas/.”

4 Responses to Can Drones Help Your Business Take Off?

Oddly enough, that ‘easy’ knowledge test requiring “a few hours of study time” is highly inaccurate! Unless you are currently a pilot, it will take far more than a few hours of studying as you need to understand meteorology and how it affects aircraft, you need to know how to read and interpret aeronautical charts and many other things that can and do affect aircraft, whether manned or unmanned.

I would suggest that someone might want to purchase study guides or attend classes, and assume at least 20-30 hours of study time in order to pass the “easy” knowledge test.

However, now with Part 107 in place, it is ILLEGAL to fly drones for any commercial purposes, whether you are paid or not unless you are FAA Certified by the FAA.

Thanks for the feedback, Tom. As far as the time required to prepare for the test, I’ve consulted numerous people who’ve taken (and passed) the exam. None were pilots, and none have suggested that 20-30 hours were necessary. Additionally, the commentary around this has invariably been that the FAA wanted to establish a reasonable licensing process, but not impede commercial access. So I consider the “few hours” guideline accurate, even if it is not absolute. The test was designed to accommodate non-pilots, and was not intended to require roughly 3-4 workdays’ worth of study time. But, some people may certainly want to spend more than a few hours studying, in an abundance of caution. Regarding Part 107, because most commercial users will likely operate small drones (covered by Part 107), I used “license” to refer to the license given to those who pass the drones exam. I didn’t have the space to get into the process needed for those who want to operate drones larger than 55 lbs, who therefore need additional FAA waivers and approval.